The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced a significant update for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). Students who have completed their classes in person, instead of online, and passed an MBBS-equivalent exam are now eligible for a one-year mandatory internship. This change is a relief for FMGs, who previously faced a two- to three-year internship requirement.
This decision was clarified in a notice by the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the NMC. The notice stated that "all students who have sufficiently compensated classes in physical onsite in lieu of the online classes and subsequently passed an examination equivalent to MBBS in India shall be eligible for a one-year mandatory internship as specified in the CRMI Regulations 2021." The NMC also emphasized that all other conditions mentioned in the previous notice from December 7, 2023, would remain unchanged. This new rule is also applicable to students who have passed equivalent exams from other countries.
The NMC had initially mandated a longer internship period due to concerns over the quality of training received by FMGs who attended online classes. They argued that some students were obtaining fake compensatory certificates from their universities, which raised concerns about their readiness to practice medicine in India. The medical profession deals with human lives, and the NMC stressed the need for well-trained professionals to ensure patient safety.
Following the announcement of the extended internship requirement, FMGs expressed their disappointment and frustration. On June 10, 2024, many FMGs protested outside the NMC office, labeling the new policy as unfair. They argued that the extended internship period would cause unnecessary delays and financial strain. The NMC’s recent decision to reduce the internship period to one year comes as a relief to these students.
This updated policy is seen as a significant move by the NMC to address the concerns of FMGs while ensuring that the quality of medical training remains high. By requiring students to complete in-person classes and pass a rigorous exam, the NMC aims to strike a balance between maintaining standards and accommodating the needs of foreign-trained doctors.
In recent years, many FMGs have been pursuing their medical education abroad and then returning to India to practice. To do so, they must pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) and complete a compulsory rotating medical internship (CRMI). The NMC’s decision to accept in-person classes as compensation for online courses and reduce the internship period to one year is expected to streamline this process and alleviate some of the burdens faced by these graduates.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)